By not appealing a recent ruling (see related story) in the case of EZ Air against St. Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA), Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten appears to be doing the correct thing. The court ruled that an additional permit condition requiring written confirmation of oversight by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the carrier’s US-registered planes was unnecessary
It could not be justified, because existing regulations already define oversight responsibilities. The minister emphasised that air safety is top priority for her and SMCAA, which applies both local and international regulations ensure compliance, adding that “these stringent standards” were met by the Curaçao-based airline.
That country’s government had initially severely limited Winair’s flights between the two islands, but Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning VVRP Charles Cooper later reached agreement with Heyliger-Marten on a higher frequency. This allowed Winair to basically take over the ABC islands route following the demise of, also Curaçao-based, JetAir.
In the meantime, EZ Air – since rebranded as Z Air – worked on its necessary fleet expansion and certification. Now that this has been achieved, it seems only right they be allowed an equal piece of the proverbial pie.
The minister, who said her decision was made after “careful consideration,” did not fail to mention she is committed to fair competition as well.
